Pool liner repair fixes small holes, leaks at fittings and liners that have slipped out of the track, at a fraction of the cost of a new liner. Start with a bucket test: if the pool drops more than a bucket of water beside it over 24 hours, you have a leak. Limitless Pools finds and fixes leaks across Kingston, Napanee and Quinte.
Is my pool leaking or just evaporating?
A pool in Eastern Ontario can lose about 3 to 6 mm a day to evaporation on hot, windy days. A bucket test tells evaporation from a leak: a bucket on the steps loses water to evaporation at the same rate as the pool, so any extra drop in the pool is a leak.
Bucket test calculator: leak or evaporation?
- Set a bucket on the pool's second step and fill it to the same level as the pool.
- Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the pool wall.
- Run the pump as normal for 24 hours, then measure how far each dropped.
Rain or heavy swimming during the test spoils the result. Pool surface fills in from My Pool if you have set it up.
Where pool liners leak
| Spot | Signs | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Skimmer and returns | Water stops dropping at the skimmer or a return | New gaskets and faceplate screws |
| Light niche | Water stops at the light; wet soil near it | New light gaskets or niche seal |
| Steps and corners | Cracks in brittle vinyl | Patch, or replace if widespread |
| Floor | Soft spot or a hole you can see | Underwater vinyl patch |
| Plumbing | Leak only with the pump on or off | Pressure test of the lines |
Repeat the bucket test with the pump off. If the leak slows with the pump off, it is likely on the return side of the plumbing; if it speeds up, check the suction side.
Liner repairs we do
- Underwater vinyl patches for small holes and tears
- Re-seating a liner that has pulled out of the bead track, when the vinyl still has stretch
- New gaskets at skimmers, returns and lights
- Leak checks before you commit to a new liner
A liner that leaks in several places, or has pulled out of the track more than once, is usually at the end of its life. See what a new one costs in our liner cost guide.
Why a small leak gets expensive
Water leaking behind a liner washes out the sand or grout floor and can rust steel walls. A few millimetres a day for a summer can leave a soft, uneven floor that has to be rebuilt before a new liner goes in. Finding the leak early keeps a patch from turning into a floor repair.
Questions about pool liner repair
Can a pool liner be patched underwater?
Yes. Small holes and tears are patched underwater with a vinyl patch and adhesive made for wet use. The pool stays full.
How much water loss is normal for a pool?
Around 3 to 6 mm a day in hot, windy weather is normal evaporation. More than that, or loss on cool, still days, points to a leak.
Can a liner that pulled out of the track be fixed?
Sometimes. If the vinyl still has stretch, it can be warmed and re-seated. If it has shrunk or keeps coming out, it is time for a new liner.
Do you do leak detection on the plumbing?
We test the liner and fittings and can pressure-test the lines to find which one is leaking before any digging.
Last updated by the Limitless Pools service team. Questions? Contact us.
